Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. predictions

"You'd like to think so, wouldn't you?!!!"  

I use a Princess Bride quote to get to the point:  I think we've been duped.

I am only up-to-date on one current television series:  Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

(Although one could argue that since I haven't seen Captain America yet, I might be behind...)

I'm not writing on the "religion/ethics side" yet:  just as a fan.  But with all of the plot twists and characters' wrong conclusions over who's doing what, I'm going to make some predictions.

As of the end of the last episode "The End of the Beginning", we have this:

1)  Phil Coulson believes that the Clairvoyant is still alive, and that one of his team is likely working for him/her.  He first suspected Ward, but now suspects May.

2)  We the viewers are to believe that Agent Victoria Hand is behind this, as she has just remotely commandeered the bus and ordered her operatives to "Take out the team, but leave Agent Coulson:  he's mine!"

I believe that Coulson is right that the Clairvoyant is alive, even as he seems to be wrong about his team being involved.  May has been reporting to someone else (we're led to believe Hand), but it may be someone else (Director Fury, in my opinion).

The show pointing the finger at Hand (heh), is a false conclusion.

It's an easy one to make:  Coulson and Agent! Skye are likely correct that it is a S.H.I.E.L.D. operative behind the "knowing" of the Clairvoyant.  And Hand appears ready to take serious action against the team.

But I think Agent Hand is pissed because she's come to the same conclusion:  and she thinks it's Coulson behind it all.

The real villain?  I think it's Coulson's old buddy, Agent John Garrett.

He's the likely one to be pulling the strings.  The Clairvoyant, more than anything, wanted to get to the secret behind Coulson's healing:  which Garrett gets to participate in the search for the truth, thanks to Skye's being shot.

Garrett and Agent Triplett get ambushed at a safe house by Deathlok, but for some reason, Deathlok flees after minimal resistance (compared to what he's capable of handling).

We get the "good, helpful, insightful routine" concerning Garrett:  he openly declares his approval of Skye's double-blind plan, he has a (to the viewer) likable heart-to-heart with Skye, pointing to how much Ward has been changed by his relationship to the team (and points to Ward's feelings toward Skye).  He also fails to remember that Coulson was with him as he remembered an old case of theirs, chalking it up to old age.  The scene works beautifully as lighthearted:  but it hides what I believe is the truth

My hunch is that he is the Clairvoyant, or at least works for HYDRA.

Additionally, Garrett wanted Thomas Nash to be killed by someone within S.H.I.E.L.D., having them believe that Nash was the Clairvoyant.  He had a motivated Triplett, who wanted the Clairvoyant dead for killing his partner.  He found another candidate in Ward, and manipulated him in a similar way.  The fact that he was "in the room" when the Clairvoyant spoke to the team only means that he has an accomplice.

So, that's my prediction.  I'm going to try and go see Captain America tonight, so I reserve the right to update my prediction before Tuesday's next episode.   

(UPDATE:  I can't make it until Friday to the theater.  Since I have a Vestry meeting tomorrow night, I'll wait to see the next S.H.I.E.L.D. episode until after the movie.)

Whether I'm right or not, let me say that I REALLY like this show!